REVIEW ARTICLE
Providing fall prevention services in the emergency department: Is it effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kristie J. Harper,
Glenn Arendts,
Annette D. Barton,
Antonio Celenza,
Corresponding Author
Kristie J. Harper
Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Correspondence
Kristie J. Harper, Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, G Block Lower Ground Floor, Nedlands 6009, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGlenn Arendts
Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAnnette D. Barton
Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAntonio Celenza
Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorKristie J. Harper,
Glenn Arendts,
Annette D. Barton,
Antonio Celenza,
Corresponding Author
Kristie J. Harper
Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Correspondence
Kristie J. Harper, Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, G Block Lower Ground Floor, Nedlands 6009, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGlenn Arendts
Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAnnette D. Barton
Occupational Therapy, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAntonio Celenza
Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information
None.
Abstract
Objective
To assess the effects of fall prevention services initiated in the emergency department (ED) to support patients after discharge.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Analysis of pooled data used random-effects modelling with results presented as a risk ratio (RR).
Results
Eleven studies were identified (n = 4,018). The proportion of older adults who fell did not differ between the intervention and control groups (RR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.82-1.06, I2 68%, P = 0.28). There was a significant (P = 0.01) reduction in the monthly rate of falling (RR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.91, I2 93%), fall-related injuries (RR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.59-0.88, I2 0%, P = 0.001), and hospital admissions (RR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.64-0.90, I2 0%, P = 0.002).
Conclusions
ED fall prevention services did not significantly reduce the proportion of older adults who had future falls. However, multifactorial intervention significantly reduced fall-related injuries and hospital admissions with low heterogeneity.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
No conflicts of interest declared.
Supporting Information
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| ajag12914-sup-0001-AppendixS1-S5.docxWord document, 96.6 KB | Appendix S1-S5 |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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